PREVIEW: No. 6 Ohio State hosts No. 2 Penn State on Saturday

Nittany Lions haven’t won back-to-back games vs. OSU since 1978 and 1980

Who: No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0) at No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ohio Stadium in Columbus

TV/Radio: FOX/1410

»RELATED: Five reasons to look forward to OSU vs. PSU

»NEW: Tickets still available for Ohio State vs. Penn State game

Series history: Ohio State leads 18-14. Penn State won 24-21 last season in State College, Pa. Penn State is 7-11 in Columbus and last won there in 2011. Penn State has not won back-to-back games against Ohio State since victories in 1978 and 1980.

Last game: Ohio State won 52-14 at Nebraska on Oct. 14. Penn State beat Michigan 42-13 at home on Oct. 21.

»TV GUIDE: Where to watch the games this weekend

Coaches: Ohio State's Urban Meyer is 67-7 in his sixth season. Penn State's James Franklin is 32-15 in his fourth season.

Ohio State notes: The Buckeyes have won five games in a row since a 31-16 loss to Oklahoma. … Ohio State has scored 50 or more points in four straight games. The last time it did that was 2014. … Ohio State has gained 500 or more yards of total offense in the last five games. That's the longest streak in school history. … Barrett is tied with Purdue great Drew Brees for most career touchdown passes (90) by a Big Ten quarterback. … Meyer is 45-4 when he has more than one week to prepare for a game. That counts season openers. … Ohio State's defense ranks eighth among power five schools in yards allowed per carry (2.9). … Ohio State ranks second in the nation in scoring offense (47.3).

»RELATED: One of biggest games of Meyer era

Penn State notes: This is the highest Penn State has been ranked since it was No. 2 in the Associated Press poll in 1999. … Penn State has won 15 straight regular-season games. … Penn State leads the nation in scoring defense (9.6 points per game). … Running back Saquon Barkley leads the nation in all-purpose yards (211.1 per game). … Trace McSorley leads the Big Ten in passing yards (268.4 per game). … Penn State has five players from Ohio, including quarterback Sean Clifford, of Cincinnati St. Xavier. … Linebacker Jason Cabinda was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week. He had 12 tackles against Michigan.

»RELATED: What the fancy stats tell us about Penn State vs. Ohio State

Quoted: "I think it was a huge win for our program," Penn State cornerback Grant Haley said of last year's win against Ohio State, "and obviously it gave us confidence throughout the season, and the last year and kind of even coming into this year. We just needed that really one game where we were able to go against a top team and come out victorious."

Next game: Ohio State plays at Iowa on Nov. 4. The game will start at noon or 3:30 p.m. Penn State plays at Michigan State on Nov. 4 at a time to be announced.

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Penn State 20.

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